Erasmus Rigney Fawcett Letter 1837-04-09

Envelope: Jos. Fawcett, P.M., St Charles, Mo

Greensborough, Alabama

April 9th 1837

Dear Pa

I arrived here yesterday in good health & found Will well, except a common headache. Their business appears to be tolerably good.

After being detained three days at Paducah, I proceeded up the Tennessee river to Watterloo, where I was detained one day, waiting for a boat to take us over Colbert -- Sholes. When the boat came I quite unexpectedly found that Brance was one of the passengers. It had been seven years since we saw each other. Therefore you will not be surprised when I tell you that I scearsely knew him & He had forgotten me entirely. I steped up to him & said how are you Brance. He looked at me but at first sight could not makout who I was. Just at that time I began to feel very flat. I thought perhaps I was claiming to be brother of a man that I had never seen before. I asked him if his name was not Brance & by my blind Eye he found me out & it was only his large grey eyes that caused me to step up to him. I think he looks very much as he did when he was in Staunton except that he is not quite so heavy. In refference to his business I can say but little. He toled me that he thought he was engaged in too many things & that he desined to selout some of them, but I suppose he has written to you from Louisville. It is all a mistake to believe there is much difference between the Southern & western Countries there is some difference in the length of the seasons but the soil in the west is eaqual to any in the world. In coming here I passed through Tuscumbia a village about double as large a Boonville Mo. It is at [the] termination of the Daca[] & Tuscumbia Rail Road. I went on the Rail Road to Courtland 20 miles, in two hours. The country around Tuscumbia & Courtland is beautifull. After coming fifteen miles this lide of Courtland I got in to Mountains which continue to Tuscaloosa. The soil is generally Sandy in all the southern that I have seen

The farmers have planted Cotton and some of it is up. Corn is generally up & some has been ploughed over the first time. Peaches are about the size of hazzlenuts

When I was in Courtland I saw Wm. Watterman – Ethelbert & John McMahan & his lady who is quite small & pleasant. Also O’Cravens & his lady. They all looket well, & seemed well content.

Your Son    Ras

Col McMahons & family is expected to come to the south & settle in the vacinity of Ganesville where a farm has been bought for them